Cloth-folding machine.



6 0 9 1 7 2 m P m N E M P H N I MA M CG m WD HM .P H T 0 L G APPLICATIONFILED SEPT. 26, 1004.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED FEB; 27, 1906.

' W. H. BACKING.

CLOTH FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 26. 1904.

3.8HEETS-SHEET 2.

W. H. HAOKING.

CLOTH FOLDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1904.

FIGM.

PATENTED FEB. 27, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PALIENT OFFICE.

CLOTH-FOLDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 27. 1906.

Application filed eptember 26,1904. Serial No. 226,073.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HENRY I-IACKING, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain and Ireland, and a resident of California Iron Works,Bury,'Lancaster county, England, have invented a certain new and usefulCloth-Folding Machine, (for which I have filed application for BritishPatent, No. 13,701, dated June 17, A. D. 1904;) and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to an improved machine for folding orlaying cloth in a pile of folds each of which is of a predeter minedlength.

Broadly, the two main elements of the invention consist in, first, animproved table constructed so as to forma concave support for the pileof cloth. The degree of concavity is readily variable to suit differentkinds of cloth. The second main element consists in a novel combinationof mechanism for operating the blades which convey the cloth from sideto side and form the folds. These two' main elements working inconjunction and with the aid of the adjustments provided for insuringtheir efficient cooperation enable folds of cloth of the most variedkinds to be laid in a pile on the table of the machine with much greaterprecision as regards the lengths of the individual folds in the pilethan has hitherto been possible. The details of these main elements andof the adjustments provided for regulating their action are hereinafterdescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- FigureI is a side elevation. Fig. II is a detached elevation of the table.Fig. III is a detached elevation of the blade-tilting gear. Figs. IV, IVand IV are diagrams illustrating the positions of the mechanism whichoperates the folding-blades at the ends and at the middle of the stroke.

Referring first to the table, this is divided into two or more parts. Inthe illustration it consists of two leaves 1 and 1 resting on hinge-pins2 and 2 in the table-carrier 3.

As is usual in cloth-folding machines of the general type to which thismachine belongs the cloth 0, Fig. I, is carried from side to side of themachine by blades which form it into folds and insert the folds underclamps 4. The latter rise alternately for the admis sion of the fold ofcloth and on their descent clamp the pile of folded cloth to the table.

When a pile of cloth is thus laid on a flat table, the pressure of theclamps at the sides compresses the cloth there in such a manner that thepile of cloth as a whole is thinner at the sides than at the middle ofthe pile where the pile of cloth is free from external pressure. Henceas the pile increases in thickness it acquires a saddle-back shape ofgradually-increasing curvature. The consequence is that as thesuccessive folds of cloth are superposed on those already laid theygradually become longer, owing to the greater length of the reach fromside to side, (measured along the curved surface of the pile as comparedwith the rectilinear distance.) In practice this known defect is to someextent compensated for by so determining the length of the folds thatthe average length shall equal the nominal length of the folds, which,however, vary among themselves. Such va riation of the length of theindividual folds depends on the nature and the elasticity of the clothand is in some cases very great. Another disadvantage of this arching orthickening of the pile of cloth is that it presents an obstacle to theemployment of folding-blades traveling in a rectilinear path such as itis desirable to use in order to obtain the greatest possible accuracy inthe length of the individual folds of a piece. According to the presentinvention this arching of the pile as it grows is compensated for by theuse of the concave table 1 1 The folds are stretched across the chord ofthe concavity and are laid under the clamps in a rectilinear line whilethe fold is being made. After being made at the alternate rise of eachclamp the folds are released and they sink by their own weight into theintervening concavity of the table. The amount of compensation to suitcloth of different natures is varied by raising or lowering the leavesof the .table, and thus altering the degree of concavity. This may beefl'e'cted in various ways, as by screws, sliding wedges, or the like.In practice I find it most convenient to support the leaves of the tableon rotatable eccentric or polygonal supports 5 5"-. Since about fivevariations of concavity practically cover the whole range in ordinarywork, I use pentagonal supports, as shown in the drawings. The sides ofthe pentagon are at different distances from the axis of rotation 6 ofthe sup port. By turning the supports round, so as 1 ment 20. Thecarrier 19and the toothed seg to cause the leaves of the table to reston any I ment 20 are j ournaled at 21 at the extreme of the sides of thesupport, any desired tilt l end of the side arm 25. On the side arm maybe given to the leaves of the table. p is also journaled at 24 a segment22, having The table-carrier 3 is mounted in vertical internal teeth 23,which extend over and enguideways and is normally pushed upward, gagewith the teeth of the toothed segment so that the pile of cloth bearsagainst the 20. The side arm 25 isjournaled onastud or clamps by aweighted lever or spring in the i block 27, which is free to slide upand down usual manner. In the example shown in the I in the slot 28 andis also hinged at 29 to a radrawings the upward pressure of the table isdius-rod 30, having a stationary fulcrum at obtained from a spiralspring 7 (one end of 31 on the machine frame. As the side arm which isattached to a fixed part of the ma- 25 swings about its fulcrum 26 itcarries the chine-frame) pulling against a chain 8 on a folding-bladesfrom side to side, and owing to curved lever 9, having a fixed fulcrumat 10. the constraint of the radius-rod 30, in combi- A chain 11,secured to the table-carrier and nation with the rising andfallingfulcrum 26, to a second curved lever 12, which rotates thefolding-blades havearectilinear path. with the curved lever 9, causesthe pulling ac- The whole of the movements of the foldtion of the spring7 to lift the table. ing-blade are derived from the crank 32. The Thetable is depressed against the pull of latter is driven by gear-wheelsindicated by the spring by a treadle-lever 13, connected dotted lines at33 and 34 from the main drivby a link 14 to the curved lever 9. ,Aswinging-shaft 35. The crank-pin 36 is mounted ing catch 15 is fulcrumedto the treadle itself, in a slot 37 in the crank, and by means of an andwhen the latter descends the catch 15 auadjusting screw lying thereinthe stroke of tomatically takes under a detent 16 and prethe crank maybe varied to suit different vents the return of the table untilreleased. widths of fold. The crank-pin 36 engages Being combined withthe treadle itself the dewith a transverse slot 38 of the connectingtentis released by the foot, of the attendant rod 39. The latter is hingedat one end at 29 When on the treadle and in a position to fully to theside arm 25 and to the radius-rod control the rising of the table,thereby preand at'the other end is hinged at 40 to a secventing suchshock and damage to the ma- 0nd radius-rod 41, having a stationaryfulchine as is liable to occur when a separate de-v crum at 42 on themachine-frame. The ratent or catch operated by hand is used. dius-rods30 and 41 are of equal length and The clamps 4 4, Fig. I, as is usual inmaparallel to each other and suspend and guide chines of this class, arealternately and interthe'connecting-rod 39 and the side arm 25,mittentlylifted to permit insertion of the sucwhile the blade-carrier 19moves from side to cessive folds of cloth on which they bear. side ofthe machine under the action of the These clamps are operated byeccentrics or crank, so that the parts occupy the succescams 17,deriving motion by means of a camsive positions indicated by thediagrams in shaft and bevel-wheels from the main driving- Figs. IV IV",and IV. The segment 22 has shaft, as shown in Fig. 1. I do not herein anarm 43 hinged at 44 to a rod 45. (Hereclaim such clamp-operating meansby themin referred to as the controlling-rod.) The selves, and hencehave not thought it neceslatter is fulcrumed on a stud 46, which can besary to explain them more in detail. The secured at any desired point ona curved slot clamps 4 4 and their lifting mechanism may 47 formed inthe connecting-rod 39. be set at different distances apart bymeans of Aswill be seen from a comparison of Figs. a screw-shaft engaging in nutscarried by the IV, IV, and IV, the internally-toothed segparts whichsupport the clamps. ment 22 maintains approximately a horizon- Thesecond main element of the invention tal position from end to end of thestroke. consists, as hereinbefore stated, in the mech- The center 21 ofthe toothed segment 20, how, anism for operating the folding-blades 1818 ever, is carried by the angular nature of the When just inserting afold of cloth under the movement of the side arm relatively aroundleft-hand clamp 4, the acting folding-blade the center 24 of theinternally-toothed seg- 18 is horizontal. (Fig. IV At the return ment 22for a portion ofarevolution, and so obstroke the blade 18 rises, and theother foldtains fromits contact with the teeth thereof an ing-blade 18takes charge of the cloth, Fig. angular displacement approximatelysuffi- IV", and finally descends and inserts the cient for the purposerequired. Since, howcloth under the right-hand clamp 4, Fig. IV. ever,the same angular displacement must be These functions and changes ofposition of given to the toothed segment 20 for short the folding-bladesare common to all mastrokes as well as for long strokes, some meanschines of this general type and of themselves of compensatingfor varyinglengths of strokes, form no part of my present invention. so as toobtain a constant displacement, is ne The folding-blades 18 18' are ateach end cessitated. This is provided for by carrying mounted on andsecured to an oscillating the stud 46 in the curved slot47. The ratio oftrough-shaped carrier 19, which carries (or is gearing of the segments20 and 22 is so arpreferably cast integral with) a toothed segrangedthat when the machine is making IIO folds of maximum length therequisite angular displacement of the segment is obtained by securingthe stud 46 at such a point of the slot 47 that the controlling-rod 45and the side arm are parallel, and the internallytoothed segment 22thereby also parallel to the connecting-rod 39that is to say, horizontalthroughout its stroke. In order to obtain the same displacement fromshorter folds than these, the slot which carries the stud 46 isprolonged away from the side arm 25 in a path which is an arc of acircle the radius of which is equal to the length of the rad us-rod andwhich has as its center the upper axis 31 of the radius-rod 30 when theside arm 25 is in the mid-position. (Shown in Fig. IV.)

To obtain the required angular displacement of the toothed segment 20when the machine is making its shortest strokes, the stud 46 is securedat the end of slot 47 farthest away from the side arm 25. The rod andthe side arm 25 being then out of parallel, the arm 43 of theinternally-toothed segment does not keep a horizontal position, but isalternately moved up and down in such a manner as to give the requiredadditional movement to the toothed segment 20. The requisite additionalmovement for all intermediate lengths of stroke may be obtained bysecuring the stud 46 at intermediate points of the slot 47.

In like manner by correspondingly varying the concavity of the table tosuit altered conditions of stroke (for the same material) or to suitvarious kinds of cloth for the same stroke the cloth as it is laid willfollow the rectilinear path of the folding-blade, and thus the greatestprecision and uniformity in the width of the individual folds of thepile is obtained.

The transverse slot 38 in the connectingrod 39 is important as providinga means for overcoming a defect hitherto existing in allplaiting-machines having a side arm, such as 25, driven by a crank.

The clamps 4 and 4 have a uniform motion and always descend at the samerelative times whether the side arm is making a long or a short swing.If the machine is only used for folds of one size, the descent of theclamps 4 4 can be easily timed so as to de scend just at the propermoment when the folding-blades insert the cloth. If, however, the throwof the crank is altered to give, say, a longer stroke, (while theconnecting-rod remains the same length,) the side arm will not be at itsmid-position when the crank-pin is at mid-stroke, and consequently thearrival of the folding-blades at the ends of the stroke will no longersynchronize with the descent of the clamps. This defect couldbe.remedied by adjusting the length of the connecting-rod for eachseparate length of fold, lengthening it for long folds and shortening itfor short folds. Such a procedure is, however, troublesome. By the useof the trans verse slot 38 an automatic compensation is provided whichovercomes this defect in such a way that the side arm 25 is always inits mid-position when the crank is in the middle of its stroke, andconsequently the arrival of the folding-blades at each end of theirstroke synchronizes with the movements of the clamps whatever may be thethrow of the crank.

It is to be understood that, although only one side of-the machine isshown in the drawings, the mechanism for operating the folding-blades issymmetrically applied on both sides of the machine.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a cloth-folding machine the combination of alternately-actingclamps means for operating them a table normally pressed upward againstsaid clamps reciprocating folding blades an oscillating carrier for saidblades means for oscillating said carrier about its axis in a side arm aside arm having a rising and falling fulcrum a connecting-rod having atransverse slot a crank engaging with said slot and two parallelradius-rods suspending and supporting said connecting-rod and side armsubstantially as and for the purpose set forth and shown.

2. In a cloth-folding machine the combination of alternately-acting clams means for operating them a table normal y pressed upward against saidclamps a reciprocating side arm a crank and connecting-rod for operatingsaid side arm an oscillating blade-carrier journaled in said side arm atoothed segment concentric therewith a toothed segment eccentric theretoengaging with the concentric segment and a controlling-rod between saideccentric segment and the connectingrod and having a variable point ofattachment to the latter substantially as and for the purpose set forthand shown.

3. In a cloth-folding machine the combination of cloth-folding bladesmounted in a carrier on a side arm, means for oscillating said carrierand imparting a reciprocating rectilinear motion thereto from side toside, alternately-acting clamps and means for operating them, a tablehaving leaves hinged or so mounted that they can be raised or lowered soas to form a table of variable concavity, supports by which the leavesare maintained in their various positions of adjustment independent ofthe means for pressing the table upward against said clampssubstantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a cloth-folding machine, the combination of cloth-folding blades,mounted in a carrier on a side arm, with means for oscillating andreciprocating the said carrier, a table having leaves adapted to beindependently tilted, rotatable supporting devices arranged IIC ISO

under the said leaves individually and each mally bringing the saidtable and clamps tohaving operative faces at varying radial disgethersubstantially as set forth. IO tances from its axis, for adjusting theinclina- In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my tion of said leavesand holding each leaf in hand in the presence of two Witnesses.

the position to Which it is thus adjusted, WILLIAM HENRY HACKING. clampsacting alternately 0n the cloth which Witnesses:

is supported by the said table, means for ac- JOHN HALL,

tuating the said clamps and means for nor- G. W. TUNSTALL.

